Benefits of LEI

The Courts and Tribunal system is
an essential function in a modern democratic society. It gives individuals and wider society a
means of having their disputes resolved or enforcing their rights through an
independent judiciary. Although in the
last 50 years or so, the courts and tribunals system has been more accessible
to those without formal legal training, in order to gain the best legal advice
and representation available, you often need to pay significant costs. Paying a solicitor is not an insignificant cost
and most will have to think twice about whether or not they can afford it.

One of the ways that individuals
or organisations can ensure that they have access to justice and to the
independent court and tribunal system, (without paying a large costs!) is to
obtain legal expenses insurance (LEI).

What is LEI?

LEI is a form of insurance that
most individuals already have and are not aware of it! It is often attached to other and more common
types of insurance policy as an optional extra that an ordinary household may
have. For example, LEI may be attached
to your home contents insurance as an individual, your landlord’s insurance as
a landlord or your commercial business insurance as a small business. Next time you renew any insurance policies,
check whether you already have it or not!
If you don’t consider getting one as they will almost certainly cost
considerably less than a solicitor’s hourly rate.

If a dispute arises with you and
another individual or organisation, you could lodge a claim with your legal
expenses insurer and see if that type of dispute is covered. If so, then you could get a solicitor
appointed to assist you in resolving the dispute.

What types of disputes does it cover?

One of the types of disputes that
are often covered are contract disputes.
This may be a dispute that you have with someone that has done work in
your home that you think is sub-standard (Or indeed that someone is alleging
that you as a contractor have conducted sub-standard work). Another example would be a consumer rights
dispute where you have bought or sold goods and a dispute arises out of the
quality of the goods. You may also find
yourself embroiled in a property dispute with your neighbour. For example, you may require advice regarding
property damage caused by flooding, a dispute in relation to the legal boundary
to your property or a dispute related to someone blocking your rights of access
or right to park in and around your property.

For the ordinary person, these will
be the areas that they are most likely to get into dispute over and require the
assistance of a solicitor. Obtaining an
LEI policy will mitigate that risk for you!
Some criminal law matters may even be covered by an LEI such as motoring
or speeding offences that you may be charged with.

Another type of dispute that
would ordinarily be covered is disputes relating to the recovery of money. If you either owe, or are owed money by
another individual or entity, you could be covered for having a solicitor
attempt to recover the debt for you or to dispute the debt. Another common area that is covered for
landlords with landlord’s insurance is cover to have a solicitor act for you to
try to legally have your tenant removed from your rental property or to ensure
that they pay their rent.

LEI policies will also often
cover other types of legal dispute, such as employment law disputes or any
disputes that arise out of a personal injury.

Summary

If you do not already have an LEI
policy (make sure and check if you do!), you should consider getting one. It could give you access to an expert
solicitor in your hour of need, without any significant expense to you.